Journey Day 482 | CDT Day 145

I took pictures into the valley from my high vantage point on Nov, 6, 1987.

11/6/87

I start out lost, through deepened snow after finishing my gorp and taking down my soaking tent. Climb to a ridge, wrong way? So back down, cross one creek after a steep downhill. Up, then down more steeply to second creek. Consider aborting, slide more than hike down. Take several falls, a branch pulls tent poles loose, tent nearly off pack when I stop at the bottom. In short, life's a bitch.

Resolve to climb one more ridge. As steep up as down, I work my way up slowly. It's higher than I thought. But hooray for a trail, although I'm hardened by past failures, encouraging trails dying off in deadfall. This one has a switchback, so I happily push up, switchbackng through more and more snow, deepening as I climb.

Almost lose the trail near a meadow, but follow cairns, trail up to an intersection with signs! How quickly things can change.

I take a break, find I've hiked the Upper Gallina Trail to an intersection with the San Jose Trail. Playful compass, lack of sun give me fits determining the route. Also a sign for San Pedro Cabin 3, when the forest service map shows none. After lunch, choose what turns out to be the right route. Snow gets going again, can barely see. Route generally obvious or candle blazed. Also orange circles marking the route.

Deep snow, snow pellets bounce about. I collect some. It's wild, but hope to begin dropping soon. Hit intersection and after photos hike down in a storm. Deer in trail, happily slide down. One break, then down. Snow lessens as I leave San Pedro Parks, follow Los Pinos Trail down a creek. No flat spots, so hike farther than planned. Finally find a spot, pitch, inside just in time to beat bigger storm.

Plan Cuba day, update journal, complete report for guidebook author Jim Wolf. Cook, shots down the hill as I finish updating. A long haul from Chama. Lost big edge. Dark coming. No flashlight, so bedtime.